Meet the Team

Mr.Joseph Principal

He graduated ‘Early Childhood Studies’ (honours) with Qualified Teacher Status from Goldsmiths College (University of London).

He went on to be an Acting Deputy Head and a University Module Lecturer within the UK.

In 2007 it was awarded ‘The most improved partnership’.

He is currently in his final month of completing his Masters in ‘Family Counselling’ from the Vatican in Rome.

He has successfully led and managed three International schools from Nursery to High school.

He has lead, CIS, IB and AdvancED accreditations. IB report stated his former schools ‘had no matters to address’. (2013) 'School leaders and staff have worked diligently on creating and fostering a positive supportive school culture built upon the revised mission, vision, and shared values'. "The School provides support services that are accessible and inclusive to support the educational process and ensure achievement potential by all students" (2014).

He is committed to excellence, in particular to developing high quality teaching and learning, in order that all pupils achieve to the best of their ability.

This personal commitment inspires and motivates other members of the team to strive to develop their practice for the benefit of students. With the support of NVS leadership teams, he wishes to continual focus on school improvement through the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of strategies to inform NVS school improvements priorities.

He is developing Performance Management and teacher appraisals with designed clear targets/goals to meet the development of all students.

Mrs.Belinda Strother Grade 1 Homeroom Teacher

Belinda has taught from Nursery to 5th graders for 11 years.

She previously was a Counselor for thirteen years within Georgia.

Belinda received her Master's Degree in Early Education at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

She recently completed four years teaching within the U.A.E.

Belinda's husband Marshall is the school's Liason Officer.

Belinda loves to travel and is looking forward to working with your children.

Ms.Alex Fricker Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher

Alex has been a teacher for over 10 years.

Alex has taught within the UK, Uzbekistan, China and Kazakhstan.

She has First Class Honours in BA Childhood Studies and a PGCE from Leeds.

Alex is in her second year at NVS and enjoys the Sudanese culture and its people.

She looks forward to teaching and learning with her NVS students.

Mrs.Irina Khogali Grade 3 Homeroom Teacher

Bucharest, Romania and she has been living in Sudan for the past 12 years.

She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and received her teaching certificate in 2009.

She has been working with 2 major international schools in Khartoum and this is her first year at Nile Valley School. She has attended various educational workshops in London and Dubai; her approach in education is inquiry based learning.

She endeavours to use a range of engaging and innovative teaching strategies to involve and motivate her learners.

Irina strongly believes that all students can achieve success at their own level.

Ms.Dalia Gangari Grade 4 Homeroom Teacher

She is a Bachelor degree holder of Business and finance from the University Medical Sciences and technology.

Four years ago she joined the Nile Valley team and she was able to observe and understand the needs of every child,and she has been in Education for four years assisting in fourth grade and teaching social studies.

This is her first year as a homeroom teacher. Teaching is more than just a career for her it is a passion;

Her classroom is strategy is to reach all abilities and to create a healthy environment in which each child can thrive and discover their potential.

She firmly believes that a day without laughter is a day wasted that is why she tries to connect with each child and make learning a fun journey for them.

Her favorite quote is “Education is the most powerful weapon in which you can change the world” Nelson Mandela.

Ms. Ashley Beaufort Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher

She is from Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

She has Bachelor Degrees in Child Development and African American & Diaspora Studies from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

She received her teaching certification and ESOL endorsement from Georgia State University, and is currently working on a Masters in Early Childhood Education from the same institution.

She has 10 years of classroom teaching experience, and 14 years of experience in education.

She has worked with a wide range of students including English language learners, students with disabilities, gifted students and refugee students from around the world. This experience has taught her to plan innovative and differentiated lessons that meet the needs of all types of learners.

Mr.Moutaz KhalilMiddle School Math Teacher

Ms.Laura Guerard Grade 6 Homeroom Teacher

English and Social Studies Teacher

Laura's career in education has spanned 10 years in the United States, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Ecuador and India.

Laura studied Secondary English Education and Rhetorical Communications at the University of Nevada.

Laura is also the EAL Coordinator for NVS. She is an avid reader, loves to travel and share her love for books with her children.

She is here with her young son and is enjoying her memorable experiences in Sudan.

Mr.Suhail Riaz Grade 7 Homeroom Teacher

Science Teacher

Glasgow, Scotland in the United Kingdom.

He received his degree in Chemical and Process Engineering and a PGCE in Secondary Teaching in Education.

He has since worked in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Oman totaling 5 years of experience in the classroom. His specialty is KS3 and IGCSE Mathematics and KS3 Science.

He believes that stimulating and enjoyable learning environments are pivotal in engaging twenty first century learners. His teaching practices reflect a comprehensive understanding of reputable quality teaching models and draw on a sharp and thorough content knowledge to deliver rich and meaningful learning outcomes.

Students` centered philosophy, consistently promoting a classroom culture based on high expectations and the principles embodied in the IB Learner Profile.

he embraces opportunities to support student excellence, both in and beyond the classroom, and continually dedicate his efforts to provide enriching and memorable learning experiences for students of all abilities and learning styles.

Mr.Olen King Grade 8 Homeroom Teacher

English Teacher

Olen King is spending his fifth year teaching at Nile Valley School.

He grew up in Chadron, Nebraska, where he was actively involved in extracurricular activities from music and theater to a variety of sports.

He has brought his passion for coaching and theater with him as well, coaching girls basketball, girls soccer, debate and drama, along with his role as the NVS English teacher the past four years.

He studied (Language Arts/Secondary Education) at Hastings College, in Hastings, Nebraska, where he spent a semester studying abroad, in southern Russia.

His time in Russia motivated him to pursue teaching overseas after graduating. Olen had two years of teaching experience as an ESL teacher in the Republic of Georgia as a member of the TLG (Teach and Learn with Georgia) English learning initiative and in Russia, at the Mr. Freeman Language Academy, prior to joining NVS.

He chose both positions based on his love of the Caucus region and his desire to learn Russian language.

In his classroom, Olen is a staunch advocate of getting his students to be critical thinkers and collaborative learners.

Ms. Jennie SharplesDeputy Principal

Dean of Academic Studies

Ms. Sharples is an experienced British teacher and administrator. She has 30 years of teaching and administration experience encompassing, International Baccalaureate (IBDP), American Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Advanced Placement (AP), English as a Second Language (ESL) and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

Her areas of professional interest and training include maximising the academic potential of girls, reading and literary strategies, community service projects, global education, college preparation, research writing and team building.

A parent with three children of her own, Ms Sharples is an internationalist who has worked in the USA, Thailand, Indonesia, Burma, China, Kazakhstan and most recently Khartoum.

Ms Sharples is a writer and is the author of nine books on Thai culture, cross-culture and education.

Mr. Riaan O’ Brien is an international educator with teaching experience from the UK, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Australia, with Sudan being the most recent.

He has extensive experience in planning, implementing, and coordinating school curriculums, including the IGCSE and A-Level programs, training and examining IELTS, and leading the ESL and Psychology departments.

Mr. Riaan O Brien is an extremely energetic, creative and enthusiastic faculty member. He has a very kind heart for all students, faculty, and parents.

As a father of a teenage boy, he has developed special interests in understanding and supporting teenagers in their academic and social development. He sets high standards for his students and goes way beyond the normal expectations to support them.

He believes that, with the right guidance and support, everyone can reach greater successes in life.

Mrs. Marina Safwat BahigGrade 9 Homeroom Teacher

Chemistry & Biology Teacher

Mr. Dan Achiroae ICT Teacher

Dan hold a degree in History and Philosophy and a Masters decree in Social Studies.

Dan has accumulated several years of work within the IT sector.

He has taught in several schools including Romania, Kyrgystan and Cambodia.

Dan shares his knowledge with students and teaches them to use technology in innovative ways.

Mrs. Awatif Art Teacher

Mr. Hassan El Mahi Hussein Music Teacher

Ms. FloraStudent Support Services

Ms. Allyson AugerSpecial Needs Coordinator

From Daytona Beach Florida in the US.

Graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exceptional Student Education from The University of Central Florida.

Has been teaching Special Needs in the United States and in Kuwait for 10 years.

Will be completing a Master’s Degree from Capella University within the year.

Her approach to Special Education is that inclusion is the best way to teach all students, itf helps the special education students learn and the helps the other students learn to be accepting of others.

Ms.Mandy Flowers Senior Kindergarten Teacher

Preschool Coordinator

She comes from San Antonio, Texas in the USA.

She received her degree in Applied Learning and Development and certification in Early Childhood and Elementary Education in 2004 from the University of Texas at Austin.

She has since worked in South Korea, Japan, the UAE, and Azerbaijan totaling 12 years of experience in the classroom and 5 in administration.

Her specialty is literacy acquisition in second language learners, as it was the focus of her studies and most of her experience.

Her approach to education is discovery based and she provides as many opportunities for hands-on learning as possible.

Mandy is looking forward to her second year leading NVS pre-school.

Ms.Clair Austin Junior Kindergarten Teacher

She has taught for the past seven years in Europe, Central and South East Asia. She has 5 years' experince within a pre-school enviroment.

Clair completed her decree in 2007 from the University of Lincoln. She received her Teaching Certificate in 2009.

Clair is from the county of Staffordshire in England. Clair prides herself in providing a safe and stimulating enviroment.

Ms. Sophia Nursery Teacher

Mr.Maysra Mahjoub Arabic Teacher

Ms. Amna Ibrahim Mohamed Arabic Teacher

Master’s Degree in Arabic Language and Geography
University of Khartoum, Sudan

Ms. Yasmin Kamal Abdallah Arabic Teacher

Bachelor of Science in Psychology
University of Ahfad, Khartoum, Sudan

Ms. Sarah El Hadi Mustafa Islamic Studies Teacher

Chairman Message

Welcome to Nile Valley School. I am proud to be part of the wonderful NVS family that
includes all of our children, parents, staff and supporters in the community. Every day we do our best to
ensure that our students are working hard in all aspects of their education. At Nile Valley we use the
American Common Core Curriculum as our standard for instruction. To supplement the Common Core we also
incorporate the newest and most innovative curriculum in the world has to offer. Our teachers use modern
research-based methodology to challenge our students to think “outside of the box.”We want to produce
students who have the right skills to be successful in their post-secondary education and beyond.
We teach creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making skills.
We teach communication and collaboration skills. We provide instruction in citizenship
and personal and social responsibility. Beyond our academically rigorous curriculum Nile
Valley provides a wide range of activities to stimulate creativity and personal fitness.
We believe that by maintaining very high standards we can ensure that our students will
excel in the areas of literacy and numeracy.The teachers at NVS set high standards for themselves.
They want our students to receive the finest education possible. We have high expectations for every
child at Nile Valley and at the same try to instill a mindset whereby every child has high expectations
for him or herself. That, we feel, develops in our students an attitude that embraces learning for the
sake of learning.
I would encourage you to drop by the school anytime and see for yourself the wonderful things that go on every
single day at Nile Valley School! Mr. Faisl Abbas, Chairman. This site is developed by: MSaif, msaif3@outlook.com
.